580 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. September 17, 1915. In manufacturing fuel there is a pronounced scarcity of washed nuts. Slacks, both rough and small, are plentiful, however, the small qualities especially. In the Bradford district many large consumers are renewing their contracts, and in some cases arrangements are being made to cover next year. For this class of business pit prices are averaging 5s. 6d. to 6s. per ton advance on last year’s prices. The production of washed furnace coke is still on the top side of the demand, and buyers have no difficulty in securing supplies at 16s. per ton at the ovens. A contract for 200 tons per week to the end of the year has been booked this week at 16s. 9d. f.or. Current pit prices. House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 14/ Wallsend & London best 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 13/ -14/ Silkstone best 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 13/ -13/6 Do. house 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 12/ -12/6 House nuts Prices f.o.b. Hull:— 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 11/ -11/6 Haigh Moor best 20/6-21/6 20/6-21/6 16/9-17/9 Silkstone best 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 15/3-16/3 Do. house 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 14/ -14/6 Other qualities Gas coal:— Prices at pit : 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 13/ -14/ Screened gas coal., 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 15/ -16/ 10/9-11/6 Gas nuts 14/ -15/ 9/9-10/6 ITnscreened gas coal ... Other sorts:— Prices at pit: 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 9/6-10/ Washed nuts Large double-screened 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 11/ -11/6 engine nuts 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 9/6-10/ Small nuts Rough unscreened 13/6-14/6 13/6-14/6 9/ - 9/9 engine coal 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ 9/6-10/ Best rough slacks 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 7/3- 8/3 Small do. 9/6-10/6 9/6-10/6 6/ - 7/3 Coking smalls Coke:— Price at ovens : 9/6-10/6 9/6—10/6 6/3- 7/6 Furnace coke 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 12/6-13/6 Barnsley. COAL. Although the demand continues to be of a steadily active character, there is more indication that the collieries are able to meet the present needs more promptly. The slight improvement in the output, owing to the smaller proportion of absentees, appears to be maintained, although the effect of the local holidays has not yet terminated, and there will be further stoppages at some collieries during the present month. Now that prices are practically fixed by the recent legislative enactment the market is still less animated, and business has settled down into a steady groove. As time progresses more fuel is being sold under contract, with very little surplus tonnage and, of course, less demand in the open market. In regard to large steams, the export trade is fairly well maintained, although business is mostly confined to France and, in a less degree, for Italy. Best hards are largely taken for home purposes, and prices remain steady. Secondary sorts continue to be more largely exported, and the large supply that is needed by the railway companies enables the pits to dispose of their production. There is no change in the very active demand for steam nuts, whether for home purposes or for export. Relatively speaking, much better values have been obtained for this class of coal than for hards, and it is in this section that the collieries feel most pressure for supplies. The deliveries to armament firms are still of a very heavy description, and stocks are practically nil. Collieries largely concerned in the pro- duction of gas coal are feeling the pressure upon their ability to supply, owing to the period of the year, and any surplus lots of this class of fuel which are available are readily disposed of for export. Values are firmly main- tained, and enquiries are frequent for special lots to supplement the tonnage which had been secured under contract. Although there has been a slight improvement in the demand for slacks and small steam fuel, the present output appears to be a little in excess of the needs of the market. Consequently, offers to supply lots are still to be met with, and prices, if anything, show a weaker tendency, but with the expiration of the holiday period in the manu- facturing districts a prompt recovery is predicted. The stronger demand for house coal of all descriptions is main- tained, and collieries generally are becoming fairly well booked up with orders. Merchants who are now receiving more prompt deliveries from the pits are finding it difficult to expeditiously deliver the coal to customers, owing to the increased orders and the restricted supply of labour and horses. The position of the coke trade has not materially changed. Although the output has been considerably reduced, there is difficulty in disposing of the production, and prices remain at the considerably reduced level as quoted last week. Prices at pit. House coals:— Best Silkstone Best Barnsley softs Secondary do Best house nuts Secondary do Steam coals:— Best hard coals Secondary do Best washed nuts Secondary do Best slack Rough do Gas coals:— Screened gas coals Unscreened do Gas nuts Furnace coke Current prices. 20/ -22/ 18/ -18/6 16/6—17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ 16/6-17/ 15/ -15/6 16/ -16/6 15/ -15/6 12/ 10/6-11/ 15/6-16/ 14/6-15/ 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ L’st week’s prices. 20/ -22/ ■ 18/ -19/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ 16/6 15/ -15/6 16/ -16/6 15/ -15/6 12/ -12/6 11/ -11/6 15/6-16/ 14/6-15/ 15/ -16/ 15/6-16/6 Last year’s prices. 15/ -15/6 15/ 12/ -13/6 12/9-13/ 10/9-11/ 11/ -11/3 10/3-10/9 10/9-11/ 9/9-10/ 6/9 5/9- 6/ 10/6-11/ 10/ 10/ -10/6 12/3-12/9 Hull. COAL. The export market continues to retain a steady tone, and prices are very little changed on the week unless it be that secondary sorts are not quite so strong. Best South York- shire steams, however, are taken up pretty well, and 19s. 6d. to 19s. 9d., with about 6d. more for primes, may be regarded as about the current value for prompt shipment. Secondary sorts are pretty steady on the basis of 18s. to 18s. 6d. for washed doubles and only a fraction less for washed singles, while small coal is in fair demand at 14s. 3d. to 14s. 6d. and rough slack at 13s. 9d. to 14s. 3d. Derbyshire steams have suffered from the prohibition of the export to Sweden, and prices are only nominal at 18s. 6d. to 19s. for shipment at Grimsby or Immingham. West Riding Hartleys are unchanged at 18s. 6d., and screened gas and house coal are steady at 18s. 6d. to 20s. There has been greater activity at the docks and most of the available steamer tonnage having been absorbed at lower rates. There is now a rising tendency, owners quoting 17s. for Rouen, 15s. Dieppe, and 16s. 9d. Dunkirk or Calais, at which rates a small volume of business had been done. For a 2,500 steamer, Hull to Bordeaux, 23s. is reported paid. Generally, however, nothing is moving in the Mediterranean direction, nearest quotations for Genoa-Savona being about 30s. Chesterfield. COAL. There is a slight improvement in the demand for house coals, and there are indications that householders, as well as merchants, are beginning to lay in stocks in anticipation of their winter requirements. Orders for prompt delivery are plentiful, and prices remain firm. There is no change in the situation with regard to fuel for manufacturing purposes, for which the demand is of a steady character. There are no complaints of short supplies from any quarter. The large steel works of Sheffield are working at full pressure, and heavy deliveries of cobbles and nuts are going forward daily from this district. Slack for steam raising is in good demand, and will doubtless come into greater requisition during the autumn and winter months. Prices are unchanged. Contracts are being renewed on the basis of 4s. per ton advance in accordance with the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. There is a more active demand for steam coal for locomotive use for English railways, and railway companies are showing greater anxiety with regard to supplies. Like other consumers of coal, they are no doubt desirous of increasing the tonnage of their reserve stocks—a wise precaution. The export trade shows no sign of improvement. It is still dominated by the licence difficulty. In this respect matters are slightly worse, and new business has now become practically impossible. The congestion at the French ports is very serious, causing freights to rise substantially, and retarding business on this account. For this reason, too, exporters are unable to take delivery of coal, for which there has of late been so much pressure. The coke market is depressed, and unless there is an early improvement it will become necessary to reduce the number of ovens now at work. The present make of coke is undoubtedly in excess of the needs of the market. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best house coals 17/ 17/ Secondary do 16 6 16/6 — Cobbles 16/ 16/ Nuts 15/ 15/ - . Slack 12/6 12/6 — IRON. Business in pig iron is on a very much reduced scale, and prospects are poor. The finished iron department is in a satisfactory position with regard to work, all the mills of the district being fully employed. Nottingham. COAL. There has been more activity in the coal trade in Nottinghamshire during the past week, and, with the approach of autumn the tone generally is assuming a brisker character, values at the same time becoming firmer. Although the weather this month has not been helpful, so far as the domestic fuel branch is concerned, yet merchants are driving a fairly good trade, the advice issued by the Board of Trade to householders to lay in stocks having apparently had some effect on the public. Best households are selling well, and seconds are going out of hand very satisfactorily, but common qualities are not so readily disposed of. The demand in the steam coal branch con- tinues to be active, some qualities being in very keen request, as also are nuts and small steams. A good tonnage is leaving the county on. export account. There is less pressure in the slack market, with the result that prices are not so steady. Collieries just now are in a better position as regards supplies. The output of gas coal is practically cleared by requirements on contract account, most of the works taking full supplies to increase their stocks for the winter. Rather more enquiries are coming to hand for coke, the prices of which are slightly easier than a few weeks ago. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Hand-picked brights 18/ -18/6 18/ -18/6' — Good house coals 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ Secondary do w/ 91 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ — Best hard coals 16/ -16/6 16/ -16/6 Secondary do 15/ -15/6 15/ -15/6 — Slacks (best hards) 11/ -11/6 11/ -11/6 Do. (second) 10/6-11/ 10/6—11/ — Do. (soft) 10/6-11/ 10/6-11/ — Leicestershire. COAL. There is a full and steady influx of new business for all classes of coal, and prices are very firmly maintained all round. For the present the business on hand is very much in excess of the supplies available, the whole of the diminished output being absorbed day by day. The supplies of empty wagons are coming to hand with much greater regularity and this applies both to railway-owned and privately-owned vehicles. The additional 50 per cent’ permitted to be charged for the hire of coal wagons owned by coal merchants is in full force, and this additional amount is fully necessary to meet the increased cost of repairs and renewals generally. The transport of full wagons is now in a much more satisfactory position than since the opening of the war, and the more rapid transport together with the shorter period required for clearing is making an enormous difference to the average tonnage carried per wagon. There is an excessive demand for all classes of manufacturing fuel, and the requirements in this respect continue to show a steady expansion. The bulk of the orders are for large firms who are engaged on most important contracts for the Government for Army and Navy purposes and there is no sign of any relief in the near future. Orders of this character have a very marked preference over all others, and the firms continue to build up reserves of stocks to meet any unexpected emergency which may arise. This fuel has to be largely augmented by large deliveries of cobbles and large nuts, and this is likely to be maintained for many months ahead as users are more anxious about adequate supplies than they are about prices. This policy, of course, very largely diminishes the supplies available for household and general consumption, and it is difficult to forecast what the ultimate effect will be on the general supplies when the full winter consumption is in force. The demand for the London district is very strong with no sign of abatement. The pits are working five. days per week and although there are now wagons available for working the three- quarter day on Saturday the miners prefer to observe Saturday as a play day. The following are the quotations, subject to special modifications, which are now generally in operation at the collieries in this district:— Prices at pit. Best household coal ..... Second, hand picked ..... Deep screened cobbles ... Deep large nuts ......... Bakers’ nuts............. Small nuts............... Deep breeze ............. Peas .................... Small dust .............. Main nuts for London kitcheners............... Steams, best hand picked Steams, seconds ......... Main cobbles for kitcheners Main breeze.............. Current prices. 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/ 13/ —13/6 13/6-14/ 11/3—12/3 5/ - 6/ 14/9-15/9 14/6-15/6 13/6-14/ 14/9-15/9 13/ -14/ L’st week’s prices. 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 15/6-16/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/ 13/ -13/6 13/6-14/ 11/3-12/3 5/ - 6/ 14/9-15/9 14/6-15/6 13/6-14/ 14/9-15/9 13/ -14/ Last year’s prices. 13/6-14/6 12/6-13/6 12/3-13/3 11/6-12/ 11/6-12/6 10/6-11/3 9/6-10/ 7/9- 8/3 2/ - 2/3 10/ -10/6 9/6-10/6 8/6- 9/3 10/ -10/6 South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The situation remains unchanged. Merchants find it as difficult as ever to get their requirements fulfilled except in the case of slacks, which are slightly more plentiful. Added to a scarcity of labour is the fact that many of the miners are disinclined to do more than a certain amount of work. There is a steady household demand, stimulated no doubt by the advice to buy before the shortage becomes more pronounced, and fuel for works, all now working at full pressure, is in active request. No change in prices, which are as follow:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including prices. prices. prices. Cannock Chase) :— House coal, best deep ... 23/ 23/ 17/6 Do. seconds deep 21/ 21/ 15/ Do. best shallow 20/ 20/ 13/6 Do. seconds do. 19/ 19/ 19/6 12/9 Best hard 19/6 14/6 Forge coal 16/ 16/ 10/6 Slack 11/6 11/6 7/ Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder.. 21/ 21/ 15/6 Do. hand-picked cobs 20/ 20/ 13/ Best hard spires 19/6 19/6 14/6 Forge (steam) 16/ 16/ 10/6 D.S. nuts (steam) 16/ 16/ 9/6 Small (do-) 15/ 15/ 8/ IRON. Conditions were reported steady in practically every branch of the market. Finished iron makers appear to be overtaking arrears of work in the bar department, the appreciation of values having discouraged the placing of any considerable contracts, so that business is now being conducted on a hand-to-mouth basis. Makers of best bars have offers of plenty of business to absorb their output, but the movement in favour of a further advance of the standard does not appear to make headway. It is stated that though quotations for Lancashire and North Stafford- shire bars are nominally on an equality with the marked bar basis, such prices are only obtainable from small buyers, and business with merchants and big consumers is con- ducted on easier lines. South Staffordshire merchant bars are steady at <£11 10s. delivered in the district. There is less pressure on the mills engaged in the production of nut and bolt iron, and orders are booked at about £10 17s. 6d. Very little new business is being placed in American bars. Puddled bars are in active request. The production is not equal to the demand, and sellers are able to insist upon a minimum of £8. For small sizes there is a good enquiry, and competition for business is practically in abeyance. Three-eighth rounds command from £12 5s. to £12 7s. 6d. delivered in Birmingham. The trade in galvanised sheets, usually brisk at this season, continues dull, particularly in the export section. Prices are maintained, however, by the high cost of production, and makers say the ruling rates, £17 10s. to £18, are only possible because they have still some stocks of sheet bars bought at £7. Supplies cannot be obtained now under £7 10s. to £7 15s., and when stocks are exhausted another rise in sheets is said to be inevitable. Black sheets vary from £10 10s. to £11 for doubles.